University of Technology Sydney

41085 Fundamentals Studio B

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2020 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Engineering: Electrical and Data Engineering
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade, no marks

Requisite(s): 41084 Fundamentals Studio A

Description

This is a studio subject. It is not a conventional subject guided by a curriculum. Its purpose is to provide an environment in which students can translate the knowledge they have or can gain into what they can do.

This is the second of two studios in the fundamentals stage of the Data and Electronic Engineering majors. The majors have six such studios, two in each of the stages: fundamentals; applications; and professional.

Studios are product-based subjects, largely conducted in the studio, in collaboration with other students, academic staff and industry mentors. Students do a combination of individual self-directed study and project work as a team.

The stages of the projects are the means by which students learn how to apply their knowledge to what they can achieve. The stages follow the classic engineering paradigm of assess, design and implement.

The individual tasks are guided by a learning contract established at the beginning of the session.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Model, prototype and/or build a Product based on the needs of a Product Owner
2. Work effectively in a team to solve complex problems
3. Work independently to fulfil the requirements of their Individual Learning Contracts
4. Teach knowledge and/or skills to peers in the Studio

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

  • Socially Responsible: FEIT graduates identify, engage, interpret and analyse stakeholder needs and cultural perspectives, establish priorities and goals, and identify constraints, uncertainties and risks (social, ethical, cultural, legislative, environmental, economics etc.) to define the system requirements. (B.1)
  • Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design and decision-making methodologies to develop components, systems and processes to meet specified requirements. (C.1)
  • Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply abstraction, mathematics and discipline fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to evaluate, implement and operate systems. (D.1)
  • Collaborative and Communicative: FEIT graduates work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams, communicating effectively and operating within cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural contexts in the workplace. (E.1)
  • Reflective: FEIT graduates critically self-review their performance to improve themselves, their teams, and the broader community and society. (F.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

The Studio is carried out through two parallel activities – Individual and Team.

Individual

  1. Having joined a Team, and selected a Team Product/Prototype, the individual enters into an Individual Learning Contract (ILC).
  2. The individual first assessment (10%) occurs after 3 weeks and is the point at which the student agrees to the ILC with the academic mentor.
  3. The second individual assessment (30%) occurs at the end of the session. The learning outcomes are assessed against what was agreed to in the contract. The students “teach” the class activity.
  4. The student will have an opportunity to revisit the ILC during the session if required.
  5. At the beginning of the Studio, the student starts a Personal Design Journal (20%).

Team

At the beginning of the session the Team selects a Product/Prototype to complete.

  1. The Product/Prototype may be new, or “rolled over” from Studio A.
  2. The Product/Prototype will have an Owner, who will work with them in a guiding and mentoring role.
  3. The Team’s objective is to meet the Owner’s expectations in an innovative way that still follows good engineering practice. Teams are encouraged to think outside the box.
  4. The Team is responsible for managing their project, ensuring they meet their reporting and timeline objectives.
  5. The Team reports their work in a UTSOnline WiKi. This must be done in an ongoing and timely way. The first part of the WiKi is the Proposal, and is assessed after 3 weeks. Then the entire WiKi forms the “written” part of the deliverable which is assessed together with the Product/Prototype and a Presentation at the end of the Session.
  6. The first Team assessment is after 3 weeks and is the Proposal (20%).
  7. The final assessment occurs at the end of the session and is of item 5 above (20%).

The faculty expects a commitment of nine hours per week for the Studio, three hours of which occur during scheduled Studio time. Students are expected to attend the three hour sessions each week. This is the time when:

  1. Individual students and staff meet to discuss ILCs and “teach” the class activities,
  2. Teams meet with staff to discuss Team progress,
  3. Teams meet with Product Owners to discuss issues about Products/Prototypes,
  4. Industry visitors present talks on interesting topics
  5. “Teach” the class sessions occur.

Ultimately learning is the student's responsibility. It is an aim of this subject to help students develop strategies that will enable them to more effectively undertake the responsibility of learning. These strategies will help students throughout the rest of their course and later in practice.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Individual Learning Contract Agreement

Intent:

Creation of an Individual Learning Contract allows students to identify and document their learning direction, and set goals for the session.
Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

3

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

F.1

Type: Portfolio
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 10%

Assessment task 2: Individual Learning Contract Finalization

Intent:

In finalizing the Individual Learning Contract, students demonstrate that they have achieved the goals set near the start of the session.
Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

3 and 4

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

F.1

Type: Portfolio
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 30%

Assessment task 3: Team Product/Prototype Proposal

Intent:

Creating a Product/Prototype Proposal allows teams of students to define a scope for their studio work for the current session, and to negotiate the scope and outcomes with the Product Owner(s) and academic mentor(s).
Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1 and 2

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1, D.1 and E.1

Type: Project
Groupwork: Group, group assessed
Weight: 20%

Assessment task 4: Team Product/Prototype Delivery

Intent:

Students demonstrate their ability to deliver a Product or Prototype to an agreed scope. In doing so, students also demonstrate their capacity to solve problems, create solutions, work in teams, communicate professionally, and manage time and tasks.
Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1 and 2

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1, D.1 and E.1

Type: Project
Groupwork: Group, group and individually assessed
Weight: 20%

Assessment task 5: Individual Design Journal

Intent:

Creation of an Individual Design Journal that allows students to record and reflect on their process and experiences in completing both their Individual Learning Contracts as well as their participation in the Team Product.
Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

3

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

F.1

Type: Journal
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 20%
Criteria:

Assessment criteria
Has the Journal been maintained regularly? (4)
Does the journal show that the author has been able to record key items, and reflect on the way that they have affected the product development? (4)
Does the journal show that the author has learned out of the experience? (4)
What is the level of completeness and systematic entry to the journal? (4)
Has the author properly recorded the things that did not work, the disasters and the mistakes? (4)
Total Points: 20